Health professionals, patients and chronic illness policy: A qualitative study (Australia)

Location

International

An Australian study, reported in Health Expectations, investigates health professionals’ reactions to patients’ perceptions of health issues.

Focus groups with doctors, nurses, allied health staff and pharmacists (n = 88) in two urban regions explored responses to patient experiences of chronic illness. 

From the results of the study, the authors conclude that "professionals focus on their own resources and the behaviour of other professionals to improve management of chronic illness. They did not factor information from patient experience into their views about systems improvement. This inability to identify solutions beyond their professional sphere highlights the limitations of an over-reliance on the perspectives of health professionals. The views of patients and carers must find a stronger voice in health policy".

Yen, L., et al. (2011). Health professionals, patients and chronic illness policy: A qualitative study. Health Expectations, 14(1), 10-20.

Available to read in free full text at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1369-7625.2010.00604.x/full